Fortunate........

Today started out like a normal Sunday morning, sleep in a little, usually till about 8am or so, get up, get my coffee and check the web and be lazy for a bit. About 10 am or so I decide to fire up "The Bitch", my '76 ironhead sportster and go for a ride over to visit a brother I haven't seen in a few weeks.

After hanging out there for a couple hours, talking scoots, and planning a road trip, I headed back home. Total trip was about 30 miles, not long, but the time spent with a brother is priceless. He is one of a handful of people I will call brother. I met him in '97 if I remember right, lol! Dan has been there with me through thick and thin, a true brother from the word go. Hell, I stood with him at his wedding, Dan, Jada, Kortlyn and Karson are family. While there another brother showed up, I've known Bill since '93 and I've not had a truer friend. Through everything Bill has been a true friend. Time spent with them is priceless.

Once I got home my wife wanted to go for a short ride. Who am I to argue?! So I get the Drifter out. My '02 Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter 1500. She's a caddy on 2-wheels, lol!

We take a quick ride to pick up some beer, about 40 miles round trip, lol! My wife has put up with me and been my best friend for 25 years this November. There's no words that can put that into perspective. We have truly lived our vows and will spend the rest of our lives together.

My wife sent a snack to work with me last week and you'll never guess who I thought about-

Yup, I miss my Sunshine! I am so proud of you for living life on your terms and taking on your new adventure. Believe in yourself.....I do.

As I sit here thinking of my wife, 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, one grandson, one granddaughter on the way, that I love more than anything and am very proud of, my brothers and true friends, from a computer in a house that is paid for, enjoying a beer and a fine Nicaraguan cigar(thanks Mike!) , I think of how fortunate I am. While I may not be among the wealthy(monetarily), I am rich with a loving family and true friends. There's a lot of reasons for all of this, but one underlying reason is that we're American, we live in a free country, we are free to choose our destiny, our life. While it is true that some other countries enjoy some of the same freedoms,  living in another country for an extended period makes one realize how fortunate we really are. 

None of this would be possible had it not been for people that believed in freedom and were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Remember and honor those that paid the ultimate price for freedom and those that currently serve our Nation. Being a vet, I am honored to call all of you brother, whether it be Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Police, and Firefighters. We are free because of those before us and we will stay free because of those presently serving. Thank you for making us all fortunate.